Ali Saad Muthyib, a 26-year-old non-binary social media influencer from Saudi Arabia, faces anxiety and desperation after their asylum claim was rejected by the UK Home Office. Doubts about their LGBT+ identity have contributed to the denial, leaving Muthyib vulnerable and at risk of returning to a country where they experienced harassment and abuse.
Ali Saad Muthyib, a 26-year-old non-binary social media influencer from Saudi Arabia, has been denied asylum in the UK. Muthyib, who identifies using both feminine and gender-neutral pronouns, claims they fled Saudi Arabia in January 2023 due to harassment and abuse from police officers.
Muthyib reported that a police officer once mocked them and shared photos of their bloody face on Snapchat after a homophobic assault, eventually handcuffing them to a hospital bed. Muthyib’s asylum claim was rejected by the UK Home Office, which a migrants’ rights charity says was due to doubts about their LGBT+ identity. This decision has left Muthyib feeling desperate and anxious about the possibility of being sent back to Saudi Arabia.
After the rejection, Muthyib was moved from a hotel in Clapham, London, to a predominantly male accommodation in Luton. This move heightened their fear of bullying and violence, recalling past incidents in Saudi Arabia where they were stopped and threatened by police officers. Muthyib says they have been recognized and subjected to homophobic slurs by residents.
A doctor’s letter confirmed Muthyib was hospitalized in April 2024 for suicidal thoughts, which have worsened since their asylum denial. The UK Home Office declined to comment on the case.